cold.fyi/Polo/The billboards on the I-10

Chapter 15 of 15 · about 7 min read · updated October 2026

15The billboards on the I-10

The short versionEvery spring, artists and labels rent billboards on the interstate between Los Angeles and Indio, because there is one road in and the people driving it are exactly the people they want. The boards cost from about $8K to $40K for a few weeks, and one 2026 campaign reportedly ran to $1M. This is a sourced, year-by-year archive of them, from the first one on record in 2014 to the 20 that were booked for 2020 and never went up.

In April 2022, a few days before the festival that had dropped him as a headliner, Travis Scott's label put up a sequence of billboards along the I-10. The first said "Psst..." The next said "Looking for UTOPIA?" The third said "Wrong way!"496 Scott had been removed from the lineup after Astroworld. The boards were his way onto the road anyway.496

That is the whole idea in three signs. The festival has a lineup. The highway has a second one.

Why the desert

Coachella's own driving directions funnel almost everyone onto the I-10 into the valley.497 Gino Sesto, whose agency DASH TWO has sold Coachella boards since about 2015, put it simply to Billboard:

"It's kind of a perfect storm... you have one way in."498

Sam Keywanfar, whose company MilkMoney supplied billboard content for 26 advertisers that year, said the festivalgoer is "a very hard-to-reach demographic," and the drive is the chance to catch them "in the early part of the journey."498 Ian Dallimore of Lamar, one of the big billboard owners on the route, said artists get to advertise "on the road leading up to" the festival without advertising at it, and called a 14-by-48-foot roadside board "the biggest flex."498

The real target is the phone. Keywanfar again:

"When fans find a billboard they are drawn to and share it, that's the holy grail."498

The same Billboard piece describes artists stopping on the highway to take selfies with their own boards, and non-music brands, from Florence by Mills to the Elton John film Rocketman, following them onto the route the next year.498

Who owns them, who books them

Two owners come up again and again on this stretch. Outfront's own blog describes the I-10 run as "lined on either side with OUTFRONT billboards."499 Billboard calls Lamar "one of the top billboard operators on this stretch."498 Lamar also says it has had a Palm Springs-area operation since 2002; that is the company's own claim.500

The artists and labels mostly don't call them directly. They go through agencies and marketplaces: DASH TWO, a Los Angeles out-of-home agency; MilkMoney, which makes the content; and AdQuick, an online billboard marketplace, which says the inventory "is fragmented across multiple outdoor media owners" with no public map.498501

What it costs

The published prices, in order:

Book early, the brokers say: six to nine months ahead, according to DASH TWO, or four to six, according to AdQuick.504501

Where they are

The boards cluster where the road narrows. Billboard describes about 50 miles of I-10 from Riverside to Indio, and Sesto estimated about 75 boards in the 23 miles from Banning to Palm Springs.498 OOH Today, using StreetMetrics data, counted more than 50 boards between Beaumont and Indio through the San Gorgonio Pass, and measured about 30% more impressions on them during each festival weekend of 2025.506

DASH TWO's own map of the route, which is a sales pitch and should be read as one, starts with the Banning Pass and Cabazon as the first boards drivers from LA and Orange County see, then the split where Highway 111 peels off toward Palm Springs, then the final mile near the polo club.504 The wind turbines are a landmark in their own right; in 2026 Slayyyter staged a bunny-suit stunt there.501

There is also a different kind of board off the interstate. The art biennial Desert X has put billboard works in the valley, starting in 2017 with a work by Jennifer Bolande on the road into Palm Springs.469 The season chapter covers those.

How it started

No one has documented a "first" Coachella billboard. The earliest found for this archive is in a DASH TWO blog post from January 2015, which shows the band Miami Horror "standing proudly in front of their billboard from last year," meaning 2014.507 The same post says only "a handful of billboards" were left for the 2015 festival.507 That is an agency talking about its own work, so it carries a low confidence label below.

Billboard's version is that the boards "first appeared about six years" before its piece, when labels started aiming at festivalgoers and at the performers driving the same road.498 The piece is undated, but it treats 2020 and 2021 as past and 2022 as current, which puts the start at about 2016. By 2019, the outdoor-ad trade body OAAA was writing up Billie Eilish's minimal text boards on the I-10.502

As for how many boards there are, AdQuick tracked 485 on the LA-to-festival route in 2018, 533 in 2019 and 548 in 2022.498 Those count every board on the route, not just festival campaigns.

2020: the boards that never went up

On March 10, 2020, Goldenvoice moved the April festival to October.49 In June, Riverside County cancelled it.50

DASH TWO had booked 20 Coachella billboards for 2020. Sesto told Billboard every one was cancelled.498 Which artists booked them, and whether any creative actually went up that spring, are both unknown. This project found no photo or report of a festival board standing on the I-10 with no festival behind it.

The industry around them fell hard. Out-of-home advertising revenue was down 45% year over year in the second quarter of 2020.508 Outfront's revenue for the year fell 30.6%.509 Lamar's fell 10.5%.510

2022: the comeback

When the festival came back, so did the boards, unevenly. DASH TWO booked 15, five fewer than its cancelled 2020 total. "There's a lot of skepticism still," Sesto said.498 Lamar sold 66 Coachella spots, against 64 in 2019, and Dallimore was upbeat.498

"We're seeing a lot of this business come back bigger, because people feel more comfortable."498

There were fewer faces to go around. Before the pandemic, local car dealers and casinos with year-round contracts sublet their boards to Coachella advertisers at a discount. After the 2020-21 cancellations, they stopped putting those boards in the deal.498

Scott's "Wrong way!" set the tone for what came next: boards built to be photographed, not just read. In 2025, Frank Ocean turned up on a board reading "KIKI BOY 2025," with no explanation.511 Not every board is welcome. In 2024, Goldenvoice demanded that the AIDS Healthcare Foundation take down its "Catch More Than Vibes?" board on the westbound I-10.512 And in 2026, enough boards were vandalized that officials planned stronger security for them.505

How this archive works

The list below is generated from the archive's data, one entry per board or campaign, grouped by year. The rules:

Instagram roundups collect the boards every year too. They are a good place to look, but a roundup alone isn't enough for a high confidence label.

Send a sighting. Seen a board that isn't here, or have a better photo of one that is? Email hello@thirdpolararch.com with the photo, where you saw it (road, direction, nearest exit) and when. Say whether you'd like to be credited, and how. Either is fine.

Still open

The archive

72 boards with at least one solid source, newest first. Every photo link goes to the original post or article and its credit. 16 more sightings rest on social posts alone - they're listed at the bottom until something firmer turns up.

2026

Addison Raehigh

'United States of Addison' million-dollar bill

A $1,000,000 bill with her face in the centre, 'Addison' in her signature font, and 'The United States of Addison' on the right.

Where: I-10 near Indio

For: Her Coachella 2026 set

Sources: Yahoo/AOL · Pedestrian.TV · Paste

See it: photo (Interscope/Capitol)

CMAThigh

'Coachella, don't be a bitch!'

"Coachella, don't be a bitch!" beside a cut-out mouth with tooth gems; cherry-red Rocky Horror-style (Paste) / Gaelic-inspired font in red, blue and white (Creative Bloq).

Where: I-10; Paste says it faced the wrong way on the highway

For: Her Coachella 2026 set

Sources: Paste · Creative Bloq · The Desert Sun

See it: photo (Big Feat PR) · photo (Instagram post by AWAL (label))

Ethel Cainhigh

'Go see Ethel Cain or the Devil will get you'

"Go see Ethel Cain or the Devil Will Get You" with a red illustration of a girl carrying a scythe - a parody of the I-65 'Go to Church or the Devil Will Get You' sign near Prattville, Alabama.

Where: I-10 eastbound, before the Jefferson Street exit, Coachella Valley (Yellowhammer News)

For: Her Coachella 2026 set

Sources: Yellowhammer News · Creative Bloq · Pedestrian.TV · Paste

See it: photo (@ethelcaintour/X, @AstorAaron/X, YHN (caption lists all three)) · photo (Embedded social post (Apr 3, 2026))

FKA twigshigh

Checklist board

Three futuristic images of herself with checkmarks beside career milestones: a Grammy win for 'Eusexua', the Body High Tour, and 'Visa'.

Where: I-10 near Indio

For: Her Coachella 2026 set (she withdrew from 2025)

Sources: Yahoo/AOL · Hypebeast

See it: photo (Interscope/Capitol)

Geesehigh

'Let's Drive'

"GEESE / SAT 6PM / GOBI TENT / LET'S DRIVE" with the bassist in an Ice Spice shirt beside a graffiti wall.

Where: I-10 between Palm Springs and Indio

For: Saturday 6pm Gobi set

Sources: Paste · Hypebeast · The Desert Sun

See it: photo (Interscope/Capitol) · photo (Taya Gray/The Desert Sun)

Holly Humberstonehigh

'Not in the Midlands anymore'

"You're not in the Midlands anymore… Welcome to Coachella."

Where: I-10 between Palm Springs and Indio

For: Her Coachella 2026 set

Sources: Paste · V Magazine · The Desert Sun

See it: photo (Universal Music Group) · photo (Taya Gray/The Desert Sun)

Justin Bieberhigh

'SWAG' strip

A strip of billboards with a pastel "SWAG" (his Grammy-nominated album title).

Where: I-10 near Indio

For: Album 'SWAG' and his headlining sets

Sources: Paste · Pedestrian.TV · Yahoo/AOL

See it: photo (Interscope/Capitol)

Karol Ghigh

Ten-board Karol G run

Ten billboards, the most of any artist mentioned. Designs reported: a hot-sauce bottle labelled 'Spicy Latina Flavor' spelling 'KAROL G'; a sparkling nameplate necklace reading 'Bichota'; a screenshot of her 2022 tweet "La bichota en Coachella 2022" with exclamation points and gold stars.

Where: I-10 in the Coachella Valley / near Indio

For: Her headlining sets

Sources: The Desert Sun · Yahoo/AOL · V Magazine · Paste

See it: photo (Taya Gray/The Desert Sun) · photo (Universal Music Group)

KATSEYEhigh

Mona Lisa 'Pinky Up'

The Mona Lisa sipping from a delicate teacup with acrylic nails, promoting 'Pinky Up'.

Where: I-10 (no specific spot)

For: Single 'Pinky Up' and their Coachella set

After: 'Pinky Up' was released in early April 2026 and performed at Coachella (uDiscover, Billboard Brasil).

Sources: Creative Bloq · Paste · V Magazine · Fast Company

See it: photo (Instagram @LilJupiter (embedded)) · photo (Universal Music Group)

Laufeyhigh

'Stay out of treble'

"Can this madwoman stay out of treble?!" with music-note theme (Creative Bloq). Paste says it looked made in PicsArt.

For: Her Sunday sunset set

Sources: Creative Bloq · Paste

See it: photo (Embedded social post (Apr 7, 2026))

Major Lazerhigh

Ozempic iMessage bubble

A lone blue iMessage bubble: "come shake that lil ozempic ass sunday 6pm at major lazer"

Where: I-10 between Palm Springs and Indio (Paste)

For: Their Sunday 6pm set

Sources: Paste · Pedestrian.TV · Creative Bloq

See it: photo (Sacks & Co) · photo (Embedded social post (Apr 8, 2026))

Rhode (Hailey Bieber) x Justin Bieberhigh

Rhode boards

Two billboards for Hailey Bieber's Rhode skincare tied to Justin's headlining slot; simple, product-first design. No text reported.

Where: I-10 in the Coachella Valley

For: Rhode

Sources: The Desert Sun · B&T · V Magazine

See it: photo (Taya Gray/The Desert Sun) · photo (Derris)

Sabrina Carpenterhigh

'This next billboard is gonna blow your…'

First board: "THIS NEXT BILLBOARD IS GONNA BLOW YOUR" with 'MIND' left off. Next board: a giant image of her in a sparkly silver minidress (Yahoo: lying down) with light bulbs that turn on at sunset.

Where: I-10 between Palm Springs and Indio (Paste); I-10 near Indio (Yahoo)

For: Her headlining sets (her return as a headliner)

Sources: Paste · Yahoo/AOL Entertainment

See it: photo (Matt Mitchell) · photo (Interscope/Capitol)

Sabrina Carpenterhigh

'She told you she'd come again!'

"She told you she'd come again!" over the giant sparkly-dress image (Paste places the text on the second board of the pair; Pedestrian and Creative Bloq quote it). It lights up at night.

Where: I-10 between Palm Springs and Indio (Paste)

For: Return as Coachella headliner; callback to her 2024 'She's gonna make you come' board

Sources: Pedestrian.TV · Creative Bloq · Paste

See it: photo (Embedded social post (Apr 8, 2026))

Sabrina Carpenter x Redkenhigh

Redken bonding-concentrate board

Desert Sun: "The longer you watch her set, the better it feels," plus "Happy Coachella!" and a red lip imprint. B&T quotes "The longer you wait, the better if feels" (sic).

Where: I-10 in the Coachella Valley

For: Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate leave-in treatment (Carpenter is an ambassador) and her headlining set

Sources: The Desert Sun · B&T

Swae Lee, 54 Ultra, Anyma, Marlon Hoffstadt, Oklouhigh

UMG/Interscope 2026 artist boards (group entry)

Label-supplied billboard images; no text reported.

Where: I-10 / 'on the way into the desert'

For: Coachella 2026 sets

Sources: V Magazine · Hypebeast · Diary of a Social Gal

See it: photo (Interscope/Capitol) · photo (Universal Music Group)

Turnstilehigh

Mosh-pit photo board

Photo of the band playing to a moshing crowd in a symmetrical, all-primary-colour design. No text described.

Where: I-10 between Palm Springs and Indio

For: Their Coachella 2026 set

Sources: Paste · The Desert Sun

See it: photo (Taya Gray/The Desert Sun)

2PACmedium

2PAC board

Billboard image credited to UMG; no text or purpose reported.

Where: Along I-10 (general)

For: Not specified

Sources: V Magazine

See it: photo (Universal Music Group)

Billie Eilish & James Cameronmedium

Eilish/Cameron board

Billboard credited to Billie Eilish & James Cameron. No text reported.

Where: Along I-10 (general)

For: Not stated by sources; likely their 3D concert film 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour' (inference - the film was announced for 2026)

Sources: V Magazine · Diary of a Social Gal

See it: photo (Universal Music Group)

Bini, Fujii Kaze, Max Dean & Luke Dean, DJ Carlita, Riordan, Portola festival, &friendsmedium

Desert Sun gallery boards (group entry)

Photographed March 31, 2026; no text transcribed. Riordan named in text only.

Where: I-10 in the Coachella Valley

For: Respective Coachella 2026 sets; Portola is Goldenvoice's sister festival

Sources: The Desert Sun

See it: photo (Taya Gray/The Desert Sun)

Euphoria (HBO)medium

Euphoria religious-imagery board

Uses religious symbolism; no text reported.

Where: Coachella corridor

For: The show's new season, premiering the same weekend as Coachella

Sources: B&T

Kali Uchismedium

'Check your Kuchi'

"check you Kuchi" (as printed by Pedestrian) - riff on her name/fanbase.

For: Presumably her Coachella appearance (Pedestrian does not state)

Sources: Pedestrian.TV

KATSEYEmedium

'Sahara's Gnarly'

"Sahara's Gnarly" in dripping neon-green font (reference to their track 'Gnarly' and the Sahara tent).

Where: I-10 near Indio

For: Their Sahara-stage set

Sources: Yahoo/AOL

See it: photo (Interscope/Capitol (Hypebeast shows two KATSEYE boards))

Ollipop (as named by B&T)medium

'Peaches' flushable-wipes pun

Pun referencing headliner Justin Bieber and his song 'Peaches'; promotes flushable wipes. No verbatim text.

Where: Coachella Valley

For: Flushable wipes

Sources: B&T

PinkPantheressmedium

'Fancy seeing you here…'

"Fancy seeing you here…"

For: Remix album 'Fancy Some More?' and her Coachella set

Sources: Pedestrian.TV

Sexyy Redmedium

Sexyy Red board

No text described; Paste notes it was placed 40-50 miles before the next artist's board.

Where: I-10

For: Coachella 2026 set

Sources: Paste

SKYLRK (Justin Bieber)medium

SKYLRK boards

Billboards for his clothing brand featuring Justin and Hailey Bieber. No text reported.

Where: I-10 near Indio

For: SKYLRK

Sources: Yahoo/AOL

Slayyytermedium

'I could not afford a billboard' human sign

Not a billboard: three people in bunny suits on the side of I-10 near the windmills holding signs "SLAYYYTER IS THE WOR$T GIRL AT COACHELLA" and "I COULD NOT AFFORD A BILLBOARD."

Where: Side of I-10 near the windmills (San Gorgonio Pass / Palm Springs approach)

For: Her Coachella debut; album 'Wor$t Girl in America'

Sources: Paste

See it: photo (@slayyyter on Instagram)

Sombrmedium

'The e is for excited'

Microsoft Paint-style graphic: "It's 'somber' now. The e is for excited." with a photo of the artist.

Where: I-10 between Palm Springs and Indio

For: His Coachella 2026 set

After: He announced the 'You Are The Reason' fall arena tour on April 13, 2026 (venue announcements).

Sources: Paste

See it: photo (Matt Mitchell)

Teddy Swimsmedium

Selfie board

A selfie with the text "this fat fuck will make you lose control."

Where: I-10 between Palm Springs and Indio

For: His Coachella 2026 set (references his song 'Lose Control')

Sources: Paste

See it: photo (Matt Mitchell)

2025

Charli XCXhigh

Scribbled-out 'brat'

'brat' billboard with the word scribbled/crossed out. Uproxx describes the classic brat green; Soapcentral describes a black-and-white design. Outfront says a second billboard offered clues.

Where: Near Coachella / California desert route (no specific spot)

For: Read by press as signalling a post-brat era; The Forty-Five speculated a link to her film 'The Moment'.

After: At Coachella 2025 she addressed the end of 'Brat Summer' (per Far Out headline 'Charli XCX confirms death of Brat Summer').

Sources: Uproxx · The Forty-Five · Outfront Media blog · Far Out Magazine

See it: photo (Charli XCX's private Instagram; PopCrave on X; @allurequinn on X) · photo (@charli_xcx (Apr 10, 2025))

Clairohigh

'I got charmed at Coachella' (vandalized)

Original: "I got charmed at Coachella" in lavender text (reference to her album 'Charm'). Altered by taggers: Stereogum reports it read "I got fucked by Clairo at Coachella"; Billboard Brasil and Channel X describe 'charmed' being replaced with a profanity.

Where: Highway from Los Angeles to Indio (no specific spot)

For: Her Saturday set, Outdoor Theatre

After: Art collective Indecline (@thisisindecline) claimed it, captioned 'Late Stage Capitalism headlining the Main Stage of America.' Clairo tweeted a photo captioned 'If you're lucky' and commented 'Unfortunately for me , this is very cool . Lol'; she denied it was a staged stunt.

Sources: Stereogum · Billboard Brasil · Channel X94 · The Forty-Five

See it: photo (Indecline Instagram (@thisisindecline); Clairo on X (@clairo, Apr 11, 2025)) · photo (@concertleaks (Apr 2, 2025) - original unaltered board)

Frank Oceanhigh

'KIKI BOY 2025'

"KIKI BOY 2025" on a brown billboard.

Where: Route into the Coachella Valley (no specific road given)

For: Unclear. Fans linked it to a private Instagram account @kikiboyyyyyyy (created March 2025) followed by Ocean's @Blonded, SZA and collaborator Michael Uzowuru.

After: No confirmed project or reveal in the sources.

Sources: Uproxx · Rolling Stone India

See it: photo (X post by @blondedhomer (status 1909682657392562496))

Lady Gaga (Interscope Records)high

Mayhem boards

About three to four billboards that did not name her (Outfront). Driftzine quotes "Welcome to mayhem, dance or die?" with her 'monster paw'.

Where: Near Coachella / 'in California' (no specific sites)

For: Her Friday headlining sets and the Mayhem Ball tour

Sources: The Forty-Five · Outfront Media blog · Drift Zine

See it: photo (@MayhemBallTour on X (Apr 4, 5 and 8, 2025))

Snow Strippershigh

'GRIM' tag and re-cover

Board covered early April 11 with 'GRIM' in giant letters; label Surf Gang head evilgiane covered the tag with a new Snow Strippers promo.

Where: Highway route from LA to Indio (no specific spot)

For: Their Coachella 2025 set

After: Re-covered with new artwork promoting the duo.

Sources: Stereogum · Channel X94

Tylahigh

'got water?'

"got water?" beside a photo of Tyla - a riff on 'Got Milk?' and her single 'Water'.

For: Her Coachella 2025 debut

After: Online jokes it looked like a water-company ad.

Sources: The Forty-Five · Soapcentral · SFGate

See it: photo (@TygersAccess (Apr 5, 2025))

Brands: White Fox, Tangle Teezer, Nasty Gal, Postmates, White Clawmedium

2025 brand boards (group entry)

White Fox: five sequential Burma-Shave-style billboards. Tangle Teezer: digital board with 'Manestage Ready' pun. Nasty Gal: rotating contextual messages on digital bulletins. Postmates: copy built on lyrics from performers incl. Megan Thee Stallion and Green Day. White Claw: punny digital copy aimed at bar purchases.

Where: I-10 in the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley; Tangle Teezer 'outside Coachella'

For: Brand campaigns during festival weeks

Sources: Outfront Media blog

Ed Sheeran (Atlantic Records)medium

Pink coordinates billboard

Cryptic pink billboard with latitude/longitude coordinates and a lyric from his new album.

For: A surprise Sheeran performance (he was added to the 2025 bill after FKA twigs withdrew)

After: He played Coachella Weekend 2 (Mojave stage per We Write About Music).

Sources: Outfront Media blog

Laufeymedium

Name-pronunciation billboard

Plays on mispronunciation of her name. Drift Zine quotes: "Still struggling with my name? Visit saylaufey.com to learn." with a selfie.

For: Her Coachella 2025 set

Sources: The Forty-Five · Drift Zine

See it: photo (@concertleaks (Apr 2, 2025))

LISAmedium

Alter Ego billboard

Teases her album 'Alter Ego'. No verbatim text.

For: Album 'Alter Ego' (released Feb 2025) and her Coachella set (#LISACHELLA)

Sources: The Forty-Five

See it: photo (@simonsaysittdow (Apr 6, 2025))

Polo & Panmedium

Trompe-l'oeil billboard

Trompe-l'oeil illusion of depth promoting their new album.

Where: I-10

For: New album

Sources: Outfront Media blog

Post Malonemedium

Post Malone headliner board

No text reported; Stereogum ranked it last (#15).

Where: Desert highway from LA to Coachella

For: His headlining sets

Sources: Stereogum

See it: photo (Instagram @extraposty)

TODEC Legal Centermedium

'Real Coachella' farmworker billboards

Ten billboards featuring farmworkers under the campaign name 'Real Coachella'. Verbatim text not reported.

Where: Around the Coachella Valley near Indio; director cited the east side as 'where the real Coachella is'

For: Visibility for the valley's immigrant farmworkers; ran through May 1

After: Paste (2026) mentions a pro-immigrant 'Real Coachella' billboard in 2026 too - see 2026 entry.

Sources: NBC Bay Area / NBC

See it: photo (NBC (no photographer named))

XGmedium

XG who/when/where board

Simple promo stating who, when and where.

For: XG's Coachella 2025 set

Sources: Outfront Media blog

Yeatmedium

Yeat board

No text reported; Stereogum #14, 'means nothing' outside his fanbase.

Where: Desert highway from LA to Coachella

For: His Coachella set

Sources: Stereogum

2024

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)high

'Catch More Than Vibes?' STD-testing billboard

"Catch More Than Vibes?" with FreeSTDCheck.org.

Where: I-10 westbound (seen by drivers leaving the festival), about 15 miles outside the festival grounds (Adweek)

For: Free STD testing during the festival weekends

After: Launched Tuesday, March 26, 2024. AEG/Goldenvoice legal said the artwork was too similar to its copyrighted imagery and demanded removal within 48 hours. AHF refused, the media owner kept it up, and AHF said the festival dropped further action after press coverage.

Sources: NBC Palm Springs · OOH Today · Adweek · Audacy / KROQ

See it: photo (Not stated (background art purchased from Getty Images per article))

Lana Del Reyhigh

'Has anyone else died for you?'

"Has anyone else died for you?" with a blood-red cross; bottom right: "Lana Del Rey SNL Jan 14 2012" (referencing her widely criticized 2012 SNL performance).

Where: Indio, near an exit leading to the festival grounds (Her Campus); 'on the road to the festival' (The Forty-Five)

For: Her Friday headlining sets (Apr 12 and Apr 19, 2024)

Sources: The Forty-Five · Her Campus · SFGate

See it: photo (Embedded X post by @SeasonOfLana (Apr 11, 2024)) · photo (Linked X post by @PopCrave (status 1778888988734243227))

Reneé Rapphigh

'Good T*ts and Big Heart'

"GOOD T*TS AND BIG HEART" - a lyric from her song 'Tummy Hurts'.

For: Her Coachella 2024 sets (Apr 14 and Apr 21)

Sources: Uproxx · Gen Admission

See it: photo (Pop Crave on X (Apr 10, 2024)) · photo (Reddit u/Dazzling-Orchid695)

Sabrina Carpenterhigh

'She's gonna make you come'

"She's gonna make you come… To her Coachella set. Sabrina Carpenter. See you Friday!"

Where: Highway from Los Angeles to the Coachella desert (no specific spot reported)

For: Her Friday Coachella 2024 sets

Sources: The Forty-Five · Gen Admission · The Groove Cartel

See it: photo (Embedded X post by @SCANews_ (Apr 3, 2024) sharing a photo posted by @SabrinaAnn) · photo (Instagram @stunninsabrina)

Tyler, the Creatorhigh

'Not your phone lights'

"I would love to see y'all faces and not your phone lights."

Where: Not specified (circulated as a Coachella-route billboard)

For: His Saturday headlining sets (Apr 13 and Apr 20, 2024)

Sources: Uproxx · HotNewHipHop

See it: photo (Embedded X posts from @ComplexMusic, @consequence, @concertleaks)

2023

Tyre Nichols (photographs), Desert X 2023high

Originals

Six of Tyre Nichols' photographs (Memphis steel bridges and sunsets) on roadside billboards, with no added text reported. Desert X: 'the silent beauty of these levitated images stands in stark contrast with the terror.'

Where: North Gene Autry Trail between I-10 and Vista Chino, Palm Springs (Palm Springs Life). Getty/AFP caption says near Desert Hot Springs.

For: Tribute to Tyre Nichols, killed after a Memphis police traffic stop in January 2023. Supported by the City of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission.

After: On view March 4 - May 7, 2023, covering both Coachella weekends

Sources: TheGrio · Palm Springs Life · PetaPixel

See it: photo (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images (photo of works by Tyre Nichols; editorial us) · photo (Lance Gerber, courtesy Desert X)

boygeniusmedium

Legal-notice billboard

Described only as a 'lawyer-esque notice'. Verbatim text not reported.

Where: Drive into Coachella from Los Angeles (no specific spot)

For: boygenius' Coachella 2023 appearance (debut album 'the record' released March 31, 2023)

Sources: The Forty-Five

boygeniusmedium

Mock-lawyer 'Not strong enough?' billboard

Paraphrased by The Forty-Five: the trio leaning on each other in mock-lawyer ad poses, asking 'Not strong enough?' (a song title from 'the record'). The writer calls it 'just a silly billboard poster to pique excitement for tonight (April 15)'.

Where: 'On the drive towards Indio, through the Coachella Valley' - roadside; exact spot not given

For: boygenius' Coachella 2023 set (Saturday April 15, 2023, their first proper live show) and the album 'the record'

After: The review reads the board as a joke teaser that turned into an invitation once the set began.

Sources: The Forty-Five · The Forty-Five

2022

Matoma (with Music Saves UA)high

'Drop Beats Not Bombs'

Blue-and-yellow (Ukrainian flag colors) boards; one side reads 'Drop Beats', the other 'Not Bombs' (The Fader). New Hit Singles renders it 'DROP BEATS NOT BOMBS'.

Where: Along the highway leading to and from the festival grounds in Indio (The Fader); 'on the road into Coachella' (New Hit Singles). Road not named.

For: Fundraising for Ukraine via the nonprofit Music Saves UA (vamp.org.ua), during Coachella weekend 2.

After: Matoma was asked about the boards in an August 2022 EDMTunes interview.

Sources: The Fader · New Hit Singles · EDMTunes

See it: photo (Second image uncredited (lead image is Monica Schipper/Getty of Matoma, not the )

Omar Apollohigh

'Heterosexuality Can Be Cured'

Bold red type on yellow: 'HETEROSEXUALITY CAN BE CURED' / 'JUST WATCH OMAR APOLLO ON FRIDAY'.

Where: Interstate 10, right-hand side for drivers coming from Los Angeles, around the Palm Springs area en route to Indio (PRIDE). Billboard (Pro): I-10, Riverside to Indio.

For: His Friday set at Coachella 2022 (first Coachella appearance); debut album Ivory had been announced Feb 2022.

After: Widely cited in later 'best Coachella billboards' lists (Gen Admission 2024 ranked it #1; The Forty-Five 2024 cited it as precedent for Sabrina Carpenter's boards).

Sources: PRIDE.com · Billboard · The Forty-Five · Gen Admission - 'Top 5 Most Unhinged Coachella Billboards of All Time'

See it: photo (Instagram post linked by PRIDE.com; posting account not named in the article) · photo (Omar Apollo on X)

Travis Scott / Cactus Jack Recordshigh

Utopia 'Wrong Way' boards

Four sequential billboards: 'PSST….' (also rendered 'Psst…….'), 'Looking for UTOPIA?', 'WRONG WAY!', then the Cactus Jack logo (fourth board reportedly logo only).

Where: Off I-10, on the side headed away from the Coachella festival grounds in Indio (Complex, Highsnobiety, The Fader). Uproxx says only 'near the Coachella grounds'. Billboard (Pro) places the 'PSST . . . Looking for UTOPIA?' board on I-10 between Riverside and Indio.

For: Teased the long-delayed album Utopia, during the festival Scott had been removed from headlining after the Astroworld tragedy.

After: Utopia was released July 28, 2023 (release date from general record, not from the cited articles).

Sources: Complex · The Fader · Uproxx · Highsnobiety

See it: photo (Cactus Jack Records Instagram (four billboard images, location-tagged 'Coachella) · photo (Embedded X post from account 'saint'; not explicitly credited as the photographe)

Louis the Childmedium

'Louis the Child Is Two People'

'LOUIS THE CHILD IS TWO PEOPLE'

Where: I-10, Riverside to Indio (no direction or cross street given)

For: The duo's Coachella 2022 appearance (implied; source does not state the set).

After: Not reported.

Sources: Billboard

2021

Xaviera Simmons (Desert X 2021)high

Because You Know Ultimately We Will Band A Militia

A series of billboards in standard ad typography with public-domain Met images and text statements. Quoted lines: 'You Are Entering the Reparations Framework'; 'California Once Tried to Ban Black People.'; 'You Keep Our Most Brilliant Minds in a Perpetual Loop of Articulating and Translating the Ramifications of Your Systemic Generational Plunder.'; 'We call for radical distribution of resources because economic precarity is another form of harm.' (beside a portrait of Marsha P. Johnson); 'Rupture your guilt amnesia.'

Where: Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, between Via Escuela and Interstate 10 (Time Out). PBS SoCal notes a Rocky's Pawn Shop billboard ('Make America Great') stands opposite.

For: Desert X 2021 (Mar 12 - May 16, 2021), held in the year Coachella was cancelled. Not a festival promo.

After: Temporary installation.

Sources: PBS SoCal Artbound - 'Palm Springs Billboards Prompt Heavy Road Trip Conversations' · Time Out Los Angeles - '6 installations to see at Desert X 2021' · LAist - Desert X returns with political statements

See it: photo (Lance Gerber (main + slideshows); Martin Mancha (Rocky's/installation gallery)) · photo (Lance Gerber, courtesy the artist and Desert X)

2019

Cara Romero (Desert X 2019)high

Jackrabbit, Cottontail & Spirits of the Desert

Enlarged photographs of four young Chemehuevi boys as 'time-traveling visitors' returning to ancestral lands; one shows a figure running in front of the Palm Springs wind turbines, another shows all four boys in headdresses beneath the text 'NO WALL'.

Where: Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs - northbound between Via Escuela (also given as Vista Chino) and the 10 Freeway (Cactus Hugs). OAAA describes it as 'a billboard on the 10 Freeway'. Desert X lists coordinates 33.853965, -116.506052.

For: Desert X 2019 biennial (Feb 9 - Apr 21, 2019), overlapping Coachella 2019. Not a Coachella artist promo.

After: Temporary installation; ended with Desert X 2019.

Sources: The Spaces - 'Billboards bring Native American culture into the spotlight at Desert X' · Cactus Hugs - Desert X 2019 guide to the Jackrabbit billboard installation · OAAA blog · Desert X

See it: photo (James Mead for The Spaces) · photo (Desert X (no photographer named))

Billie Eilishmedium

Billie Eilish I-10 album/Coachella boards

Minimal imagery with scribbled text promoting her latest album (When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, per release timing - the source says only 'latest album') and her Coachella performance. No verbatim text reported.

Where: Interstate 10, on the route leading to the concert and campgrounds (no direction or cross street reported)

For: Latest album and her Coachella 2019 set (first Coachella appearance, Saturday, weekends 1 and 2)

After: Not reported in the sources.

Sources: OAAA · MarkMeets - 'What We Can Learn From the Phenomenon of Coachella Billboards'

See it: photo (Dash Two (ad agency) - image alt text 'Billie Eilish' in a 'Guide-To-Coachella-2)

2018

KYLE (SuperDuperKyle)medium

'Super Duper Kyle is going to the Moon' rocket-ship billboard

DASH TWO alt text: 'Retro rocket-ship billboard for KYLE, "Super Duper Kyle is going to the Moon," Friday 4:30 PM Main Stage'.

Where: Not pinned down. The post says DASH TWO's boards 'line the I-10 heading into Coachella' but does not say where this one stood.

For: KYLE's Friday Main Stage set at Coachella 2018

After: The vinyl from DASH TWO's 2018 Coachella boards went to Rareform to be cut into bags and accessories. A backpack printed with the KYLE rocket-ship art is pictured.

Sources: DASH TWO blog · Concert Archives

See it: photo (DASH TWO) · photo (DASH TWO / Rareform (backpack made from the board))

2017

Jennifer Bolande (Desert X art installation, not an artist promo)high

'Visible Distance / Second Sight' landscape billboards

No ad copy. Each billboard showed a photograph of the landscape it blocks, which lines up with the horizon as you approach.

Where: Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs, at the Gene Autry Trail exit off the I-10 (LAist), on both northbound and southbound sides (Daily Bruin). Desert X gives Gene Autry Trail at Vista Chino (33.844917, -116.505839) and says to drive north from Vista Chino or south from the 10. Conflict: a Daily Bruin correction says the boards were not on Vista Chino; the Desert X archive uses Vista Chino as its reference point.

For: Desert X 2017 (February 25 - April 30, 2017), which overlapped Coachella 2017.

After: Removed after Desert X closed. Count conflict: the Daily Bruin first says six billboards, then says she planned six double-sided boards and ended up with three because of complications with Lamar Advertising.

Sources: LAist · Daily Bruin, 'UCLA professor's billboard art piece frames road to Coachella' · Desert X archive · Viewpoint Vancouver

See it: photo (Lance Gerber (per Desert X)) · photo (Lance Gerber (billboard photo); Kristie-Valerie Hoang/Daily Bruin (feature image)

Lady Gagahigh

Lady Gaga Coachella billboard near Highway 10, Palm Springs (Getty photo)

Getty caption: 'A billboard advertising Lady Gaga at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.' Verbatim board text not given.

Where: Near California Highway 10 (I-10), Palm Springs

For: Lady Gaga's Coachella 2017 headline set

Sources: Getty Images Entertainment

See it: photo (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella) · photo (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella (second frame; detail page not opened))

Kendrick Lamarmedium

'DAMN.' billboard on the road to Coachella

Not described. The post includes a time-lapse of the install.

Where: 'Roadside' on the way to Coachella. No road or town given.

For: The album 'DAMN.' (released April 14, 2017, the first day of Coachella weekend one). Kendrick headlined and played 'DAMN.' material at Coachella 2017.

After: 'DAMN.' debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (Stereogum, April 2017).

Sources: DASH TWO blog, 'Outdoor Advertising Campaigns Time Lapse Videos' · Stereogum

See it: photo (DASH TWO)

Lady Gagamedium

Lady Gaga Coachella 2017 billboard

Not described. The time-lapse is titled 'Coachella 2017 Billboard' and notes it went up in windy conditions.

Where: Near Coachella. No road given.

For: Lady Gaga's Coachella 2017 headline sets (she replaced Beyoncé). She debuted the single 'The Cure' at the festival (Time, Washington Blade, April 2017).

After: 'The Cure' was released April 16, 2017, during her weekend-one set.

Sources: DASH TWO blog, 'Outdoor Advertising Campaigns Time Lapse Videos' · Washington Blade

See it: photo (DASH TWO)

Lady Gagamedium

Lady Gaga wall mural at an Indio liquor store (wallscape, not a billboard)

A Lady Gaga mural. Design and text are not described.

Where: Exterior wall of K&A Market and Yunes Laundromat (owner Salah Alwishah) in Indio, described as near the Coachella route. No street address is given.

For: Lady Gaga's Coachella 2017 performance for Interscope Records. It drove a giveaway of 250 free limited-edition t-shirts.

Sources: DASH TWO case study 'Lady Gaga Coachella Wall Mural' · DASH TWO blog 'Lady Gaga Coachella mural'

See it: photo (None stated (DASH TWO)) · photo (None stated (DASH TWO))

2016

Guns N' Roseshigh

Guns N' Roses Coachella 2016 billboard above Wilshire Blvd

Promotes Guns N' Roses' upcoming Coachella 2016 appearance (Getty caption). Verbatim text not given.

Where: Above Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles - NOT on the desert route

For: Guns N' Roses' reunion set at Coachella 2016

Sources: Getty Images

See it: photo (Getty Images (photographer not shown in search listing)) · photo (Getty Images)

AlunaGeorgemedium

AlunaGeorge Coachella 2016 billboard

Not described in text. A photo is on the page.

Where: Not stated. Listed among boards on the way to Coachella 2016.

For: Not stated. AlunaGeorge played Coachella 2016.

Sources: DASH TWO blog, 'Dash Two Coachella 2016 Billboard Trail'

See it: photo (None stated (DASH TWO))

Anohnimedium

Anohni Coachella 2016 billboard

Not described in text. A photo is on the page.

Where: Not stated. Listed among boards on the way to Coachella 2016.

For: Not stated. Anohni played Coachella 2016; her album 'Hopelessness' came out May 2016 (general knowledge, not from this source).

Sources: DASH TWO blog, 'Dash Two Coachella 2016 Billboard Trail'

See it: photo (None stated (DASH TWO))

Flumemedium

Flume Coachella 2016 billboard

Not described in text. A photo is on the page.

Where: Not stated. Listed among boards on the way to Coachella 2016.

For: Not stated. Flume played Coachella 2016; 'Skin' was released May 2016 (general knowledge, not from this source).

Sources: DASH TWO blog, 'Dash Two Coachella 2016 Billboard Trail'

See it: photo (None stated (DASH TWO))

2014

Off-site festival parking (LNR Parking quoted; sponsor not named)medium

Coachella/Stagecoach off-site parking billboard on eastbound I-10

Advertises off-site parking for Coachella and Stagecoach at Avenue 48 and Van Buren in Coachella. It was changed to steer drivers to exit at Dillon Road instead of Monroe or Jefferson. Exact wording not reported.

Where: Facing eastbound I-10, Indio

For: Off-site festival parking lot (Avenue 48 & Van Buren, Coachella)

Sources: KESQ News Channel 3

Unconfirmed sightings

Reported once, mostly on social media. Seen one? Send it in.

Sources for this chapter

22 of the guide's 514 sources. Numbers match the full list.

  1. Time Out Los Angeles (Michael Juliano) - "Coachella 2020 is getting postponed until October due to coronavirus" - 2020-03-11 - timeout.com
  2. KESQ (Jesus Reyes) - "Riverside County cancels Coachella, Stagecoach music festivals for 2020" - 2020-06-10 - kesq.com
  3. Desert X - "Jennifer Bolande: Visible Distance / Second Sight" (Desert X 2017 archive) - n.d. (read 2026-10-31) - desertx.org
  4. Complex (Brenton Blanchet) - "Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Album Promoted on Billboards Near Coachella, Festival He Was Removed From Headlining" - 2022-04-11 - complex.com
  5. Coachella - "Driving Directions" - n.d. (read 2026-10-31) - coachella.com
  6. Billboard Pro - "On the Road to Coachella? Those Billboards Are There Just for You" - 2022 (undated; inferred from content) - billboard.com
  7. Outfront (Jay Fenster) - "Billboards are the real Coachella influencers" - 2025-04-24 - outfront.com
  8. Visit Greater Palm Springs - "Lamar Advertising of Palm Springs" (listing) - n.d. - visitgreaterpalmsprings.com
  9. AdQuick - "What are Coachella billboards and how much do they cost?" - n.d. (2026 observations) - adquick.com
  10. OAAA - "Billboards headlining at Coachella" - 2019-04-22 - oaaa.org
  11. Billboard Insider - "Demand Surges for Coachella Festival Billboards" - 2019-04-11 - billboardinsider.com
  12. DASH TWO (Rodolfo Queiroz) - "Coachella Billboard Ads Updated for 2027" - 2025-08-18 (updated 2026-09-01) - dashtwo.com
  13. NBC Palm Springs - "Festival Billboards on I-10 Vandalized as Officials Plan Stronger Security" - 2026-04-28 - nbcpalmsprings.com
  14. OOH Today - "The road to Coachella didn't care which weekend it was" - 2026-04-13 - oohtoday.com
  15. DASH TWO (Gino Sesto / Kim M. Pham) - "Coachella Billboard Advertising" - 2015-01-20 - dashtwo.com
  16. Billboard Insider (John Weller) - "US out of home advertising down 45% in Q2 2020" - 2020-08-27 - billboardinsider.com
  17. Outfront Media - Form 8-K earnings release, fourth quarter and full year 2020 - 2021-02-25 - sec.gov
  18. The Advocate (Baton Rouge) - Lamar Advertising 2020 results - 2021 - theadvocate.com
  19. Rolling Stone (Larisha Paul), via Yahoo - "Cryptic Coachella Billboards and Mysterious New Instagram: What Is Frank Ocean Teasing?" - 2025-04-09 - yahoo.com
  20. NBC Palm Springs (Carmela Karcher) - "Coachella Festival Organizers Demand Removal Of New I-10 Billboard" - 2024-04-02 - nbcpalmsprings.com
  21. Google - "Geo Guidelines" (Brand Resource Center) - n.d. (read 2026-10-31) - about.google
  22. The Desert Sun (Ema Sasic), via Yahoo - "Headed to Indio? Be on the lookout for these Coachella billboards" - 2026-04-02 - yahoo.com